Snake Dike With a Novice

My dear friend Josh asked me to take him up Half Dome for his first climb. I was psyched because I enjoy sharing new experiences with motivated individuals. In answer to his question, "what do I need to bring?" I suggested rock shoes, harness and snacks.

At the base of the route and after a six mile approach hike, He pulls out some archaic well-worn size 13 climbing shoes that he'd borrowed, a harness and some hallucinagens for lunch. This would not have posed a problem if his feet had also been size 13, however both of us wore size 9 shoes!

We took in the beautiful view and shared our lunches but I wouldn't let him climb for his first time in shoes that were four sizes too big! I lead the route looking like Bozo the clown in these rediculous shoes and had never noticed how all the feldspar facets resemble stars in a night sky as they twinkle with reflected sunlight. Such strikingly gorgeous granite in an amazing setting, exposed and high on the west face of Half Dome with a trusted friend.

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